Just a short contribution here.
I think that different players have different ideas of what is 'jazz'.
A number of players believe that they are playing jazz when they play the standards in mostly swing time.For me, jazz is the stuff you hear from Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. I have tapes of both these great jazz players which I listen to often and still I can't play their range of interpretations But I'll keep trying!
I have to admit that without arranger kb's I would not be even attempting to play my kind of jazz.
One bonus I would like to come out of this thread is the possibility to hear the professionals on this Forum, their thoughts and also perhaps their own jazz.
Unfortunately, as has alread been said , the audiences for jazz are limited today. There are virtually no opportunities to earn a living by playing jazz unless you are another A.T. or O.P.
cheers

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info